Lead image showing an artist in a wheelchair with his paintings surrounding him.

Photo highlights from the Texas Disability History Collection

U T A with star in the center, used when staff photo is unavailable

by Michael Barera
November 12 2020

Adapted sports

Adapted (or adaptive) sports are defined by the Children’s Hemiplegia and Stroke Association (CHASA), which is located here in Arlington, as "competitive or recreational sports for people with disabilities." CHASA further explains that "they allow modifications necessary for people with disabilities to participate and many sports use a classification system that puts athletes with physical challenges on an even playing field with each other." Below is a gallery of images of adapted sports from the TDHC, with sub-galleries below for rodeo, Special Olympics, and UTA's Movin' Mavs wheelchair basketball team.

Nathan is rowing in the boat while his wheelchair sits on the bank with his hat perched upon it.

Nathan Ramsey, a paraplegic, rows in a specially designed boat, launching first North Texas rowing club for people with disabilities at Bachman Lake, Dallas; program started by Angela Boisvert, 01/08/1990.

The batter is wearing a blindfold as he swings and a man behind him is squatting with one hand resting on his knee and the other stretched out towards the batter.

Cowtown Roadrunners, a regional baseball team for visually impaired athletes, practice for the National Beepball Association's World Series; batter swings at a baseball fitted with a high-pitched beeper, 08/14/1988.

A group of people in wheelchairs go after a ball.

A wheelchair soccer team formed by the Tarrant County Chapter of United Cerebral Palsy practices every Saturday at the Riverside Recreation Center in Fort Worth, 02/10/1982.

She stands in a field getting ready to toss a shot put.

Karie Rockwood, 8th grader from North Richland Hills and who was born a little person, trains every day to qualify for the U.S. Disabled Olympic team for the 1992 Summer Para-Olympics in Barcelona, Spain, 12/07/1989.

Shane stands on the pitcher's mount wearing a Rangers shirt and baseball cap, with his glove above his head ready to pitch.

Shane Wood, 13-year-old athlete with a birth defect that left him without hands, shared the ceremonial first-pitch honors with President George H.W. Bush at the Texas Rangers baseball opener of the 1991 season at Arlington Stadium 04/12/1991.

A man in a wheelchair is holding a bow up, with one eye squinted, aiming and ready to shoot. There is a woman in a wheelchair behind him holding her bow.

Students from University of Illinois show athletic prowess with archery from their wheelchairs for the students at O.D. Wyatt High School in Fort Worth, 01/11/1978.

Rodeo

A young cowboy tries his hand at roping, while adult stands behind him.

Fort Worth's Southwestern Exhibition Livestock Show and Rodeo's Exceptional Rodeo for disabled children; a young cowboy tries his hand at roping, while adult stands behind him, 01/22/1991.

Michael straddles the bull and holds his cowboy hat into the air and smiles.

Fort Worth's Southwestern Exhibition Livestock Show and Rodeo's Exceptional Rodeo for children with disabilities; Michael King rides fake bull while others around him cheer and clap, 01/22/1991.

Special Olympics

Special Olympics defines itself as "a global movement of people creating a new world of inclusion and community, where every single person is accepted and welcomed, regardless of ability or disability." Its mission is to help "make the world a better, healthier and more joyful place—one athlete, one volunteer, one family member at a time." Over 5.7 million athletes in 200 different countries compete in over 110,000 Special Olympics competitions.

Five track and field competitors run on a track with bystanders and others in the distance, at the regional Special Olympics games at Birdville Stadium, Fort Worth, 04/29/1986.

Special Olympian flies over high jump bar with onlookers in the background at the regional Special Olympics games at Birdville Stadium, Fort Worth, 04/29/1986.

A Special Olympian runs on a track and field, in front of two others while bystanders clap and watch at a regional Special Olympics games at Birdville Stadium, Fort Worth, 04/29/1986.

David Drake congratulates Mark Bowie, age 10, both of Abilene, for winning the 50-yard freestyle swimming match during Special Olympics competition held at TCU in Fort Worth, 07/30/1976.

UTA Movin' Mavs wheelchair basketball team

The UTA Movin' Mavs men's wheelchair basketball team was founded as the UTA Freewheelers by Jim Hayes in 1976. It was renamed the Movin' Mavs when it joined the National Wheelchair Basketball Association (NWBA) Intercollegiate Division in 1988. Since joining, the Movin' Mavs have won eight NWBA Intercollegiate Division national championships. The UTA Lady Movin' Mavs women's wheelchair basketball team was founded in 2013 and it won its first NWBA Intercollegiate Division national championship in 2016.

Jim Hayes is in the center pointing up as two players on the side watch and listen. There are folded up bleachers behind them.

Jim Hayes with two unidentified athletes in wheelchairs, possibly at Texas Hall during basketball practice, University of Texas at Arlington. Undated.

Chhayly Mak is dressed in a white and blue UTA uniform, holding a basketball with one hand while seated in his sports wheelchair. The photograph was taken outside the University's School of Architecture building.

Color photograph of "Chay" Mak, #30 and a member of the champion Movin' Mavs 1992 basketball team, winners of the 15th National Intercollegiate Wheelchair Basketball Tournament.

Jason Van Beek is dressed in a white and blue UTA uniform, holding a basketball with one finger while seated in his sports wheelchair. The photograph was taken outside the University's School of Architecture building.

Color photograph of Jason Van Beek, #5 and a member of the champion Movin' Mavs 1992 basketball team, winners of the 15th National Intercollegiate Wheelchair Basketball Tournament.

Willie Hernandes and Jesus Alamillo are dressed in white and blue UTA uniforms. Willie is sitting on a bench with his hand on Jesus' shoulder. Jesus is seated in his sports wheelchair. The photograph was taken outside the University's School of Architecture building.

Color photograph of Willie Hernandez (left) #11 and Jesus Alamillo, #14, members of the championship Movin' Mavs 1992 basketball team, winners of the 15th National Intercollegiate Wheelchair Basketball Tournament.

Arts

Mr. Souders is seated in a wheelchair, smiling at the camera. He is wearing blue jeans and a pink striped shirt while holding a paintbrush in his left hand. His arms are folded across his chest and he has a look of mischief on his face.

Artist Randy Souders in his studio, working on a painting of the Wise County Courthouse in Decatur Texas. Mr. Souders, a quadraplegic since a 1972 diving accident at Lake Benbrook, has no movement in his fingers. Undated.

Two women sign in the foreground. A man and woman act, in the background, on a stage set of a diner.

Sherie Shackelford (left) and Diane Rhodes sign for the Fort Worth Theatre production of Bus Stop, 08/06/1989.

Three female dancers are dancing around a large ladder. The dancer in front is wearing a peasant-type dress.

The American Deaf Dance Company performed "From Left to Right," part of Ballet Concerto's annual "Ballet for Youth," at the Tarrant County Convention Center Theater, 02/21/1980.

Mobility

At HEADS UP House in Fort Worth's Fairmount neighborhood, which provides rehabilitation for adult males with head injuries, Bart Wortham (left), is walking forward and a red bike is pictured behind him, Johnny Boyer and Rick Sutton. 07/15/1990

A unique system built and installed on a van through various donations allows John Dycus to drive. 02/03/1977

Batis is seated on a wooden porch in front of a light colored clapboard house with dark windows, wearing a striped button-down shirt and dark pants. To his left is his guide dog in a harness.

Howard Batis, 25, blind since he was 13 years old, and his seeing eye dog, "Flash." Flash, a gray German Shepherd, and Batis are on their first "workout" after arriving from Morristown, New Jersey. November 16, 1941.

Wheelchairs

He poses in a wheelchair beside a window with an airplane, on the tarmac, in the distance.

Craig Crosby, a quadriplegic, at D/FW Airport on his way to Brookhaven, Mississippi, where a group of seventh graders will celebrate "Craig Crosby Day," 03/28/1991.

Rob Bryant rides in a RowCycle with an American flag attached to his helmet.

Fort Worth's Rob Bryant, a paraplegic, RowCycles across America to raise money for research by the National Paralysis Foundation; he and brother Steve are on US 180 in West Texas in this photograph, 05/18/1990.

Craig Crosby is sitting in a wheelchair as Gwen Tao lifts one leg up onto the footrest. Behind them are two female physical therapists assisting a man as he tries to stand upright.

At the Dallas Rehabilitation Institute, therapist Gwen Tao teaches Craig Crosby how to lift his feet onto wheelchair footrests, 11/11/1990.

Harold Craig is in the front lawn at dusk posing in a wheelchair, and houses are behind him.

Harold Craig, age 13 of 2600 Montgomery St., Fort Worth, in a wheelchair following injury in February which involved a bus and truck collision; his leg was crushed and had to be amputated, 05/31/1939.

Jim Grey, executive director of the Conference, is seated in a powered wheelchair and going up a ramp into a building.

Sponsored by the Governor's Conference on Handicapped Individuals, regional forums are being held throughout Texas to assess how to help people with disabilities lead productive lives. 08/20/1978.

A male conference participant sitting in a wheelchair receives assistance from another man while boarding a van via a wheelchair lift.

Sponsored by the Governor's Conference on Handicapped Individuals, regional forums are being held throughout Texas to assess how to help people with disabilities lead productive lives, 08/20/1978.

Mary Elizabeth Runkles is posing in a wheelchair next to her cousin Francine Mann of San Antonio, Texas. They are in front of a set of wooden steps leading up to a porch. Ms. Runkles is smiling and wearing a flower print dress. Ms. Mann is wearing a white dress.

Mary Elizabeth Runkles of San Angelo, Texas had polio as a child. She is posing in a wheelchair next to her cousin Francine Mann of San Antonio, Texas.

Mary Pat Hodge with daughter, Melissa, at Arlington's Sunrise Park; Mary Pat leads effort to adapt playgrounds for people with disabilities, 05/28/1990.

Play

A boy in a wheelchair is looking up smiling while holding the hand of middle aged male who is looking at him lovingly. On the table of the boy's wheelchair is a soft, round toy.

At Tarrant County Handicapped Day Care Center, children with mental and physical special needs are looked after, 01/23/1984.

Byron and Brandon Graham stand on each side of Anthony Clemons, and play a game with blocks in what appears to be a playroom. Anthony sits in a chair with a table.

At Tarrant County Handicapped Day Care Center, Byron and Brandon Graham stand on each side of Anthony Clemons, and play a game with blocks in what appears to be a playroom. Anthony sits in a chair with a table, 01/23/1984.

Pamela works at a table looking down while she fits the pieces of a puzzle together.

Pamela Mullenix, age 5, works a puzzle in the playroom of the new Fort Worth Foundation for Visually Handicapped Children, 2241 W. Rosedale, 03/08/1962.

A close-up of a boy holding a baby chick in his hand, holding it lovingly.

Richard Johnson, age 11, was one of 32 visually impaired children to interact with animals at the Stock Show in Fort Worth, sponsored by public schools, Lighthouse for the Blind, Southwestern Bell, and Coca-Cola Co., 02/02/1983.

A woman stands beside Scott, whos is seated, helping him with a word puzzle called UPWORDS.

At the Day Enrichment Center in Arlington, 600 New York St., Scott McCracken is seated in a wheelchair and works a word puzzle as part of his language therapy, 05/15/1985.

Lisbeth places her hand on Mike's chin while he speaks.

Lisbeth Tooke, speech therapist, works with Mike Cameron, who is wearing headphones, in a speech training game at the Rehabilitation Center of the Fort Worth Society for Crippled Children and Adults, 4700 S. Riverside Dr., 03/07/1964.

Puppets help students understand the nature of having a physical disability at O.H. Stowe Elementary School, Fort Worth's Birdville district, 11/20/1985.

Polio

She is shown lying in a hospital bed, with two members of the Junior Chamber of Commerce standing beside her, Paul Rogers (left) and Bob McCelvey. The Jaycees are selling tickets to the March of Dimes ball. Both men are dressed in suits.

The March of Dimes is holding a fundraiser to raise awareness for polio patient care and infantile paralysis. Judy Parman, 15, was diagnosed with infantile paralysis. She was removed from an iron lung two weeks ago and is now wearing an orthopedic brace.

Bob hands a check to Barbara as she sits on a table. Ruth looks on from behind.

Barbara Gomez, four year old child with polio, exchanges a March of Dimes check for a penny piece of bubble gum. Two of nine Northridge block merchants who made donations are Mrs. Ruth Shipe and Bob Moulsby, 02/02/1955.

Brent is shown riding a bicycle through his neighborhood. He is wearing a button-up shirt tucked into jeans.

The March of Dimes is raising funds and awareness for polio patient care. Brent Berryman was diagnosed with infantile paralysis (polio) a few months ago. He has since recovered enough to take part in active sports. Undated.

He is shown playing in a wagon in the front yard of his house. He is dressed in a collared shirt, coat, and trousers.

The March of Dimes is holding a fundraiser to raise awareness for polio patient care. Gerry Tanner, a six-year-old boy from Fort Worth, Texas, was diagnosed with poliomyelitis (polio) in September, 1946.

Kenneth stands while Delores holds his shoulders. Dr. Ross, seated, gives Kenneth a shot in his arm.

Kenneth W. Tallant, age 10, receives polio injection at Peter Smith Elementary School in Fort Worth; physician is Dr. N.E. Ross and school nurse is Mrs. Delores Keller, 09/27/1955.

Marguerite is lying in a bed, wearing a nightgown. Beside her head is the birthday cake. In the background, far right, a drawing of a dog can be seen (partially obscured).

Marguerite Clarke, polio patient, shown with her birthday cake. August 1, 1943.

Charles Ringler of March of Dimes hands 1st. Lt. Bobby Outenrath a box with "POLIO VACCINE RUSH" imprinted on the side. They both stand in front of a transport vehicle door.

750 pounds of Salk vaccine arrives in Fort Worth at Carswell AFB from Austin for free inoculations in first 4 grades of Tarrant County schools; 1st. Lt. Bobby Outenrath (left), pilot who had polio, and Charles Ringler of March of Dimes, 04/16/1955.

Sign language

An elementary school student who has a pencil in her right hand and is looking up with her lips in an "o" shape.

Student Amanda Oei signs a question for her interpreter, Paula Golem to ask teacher Barbara Macintosih at Eastern Hills Elementary School, Fort Worth, 11/06/1985.

The boy on the right, who is wearing a hearing aid, is signing to the one on the left while they sit on the floor.

Children engage in sign language conversation at Regional School for the Deaf in Fort Worth, 03/14/1984.

An education teacher and a student both sit at desks while they sign.

Deaf education teacher Karen Jackson signs with Michelle Long in class at Arlington's (Tex.) Sam Houston High School, 05/02/1982.

Two girls are sitting on the floor. One girl is signing to another girl.

Hearing-impaired children in sign language conversation at Regional School for the Deaf in Fort Worth, 03/14/1984.

Work

He is shown participating in on-the-job training as he makes an artificial leg. Mr. Buckner is dressed in a button-up shirt and trousers.

Charles Buckner is a veteran of the United States Navy. He fought in Iwo Jima where he lost his leg. Mr. Buckner is currently employed with the Mathis Artificial Limb and Brace Company. October 7, 1946.

Miss Weeks is working at the rug loom. She is a member of the Girls Service League. She is wearing a polka-dot dress.

Miss Lois Weeks in the sewing room of the Lighthouse for the Blind. She is one of the blind workers employed by the organization. January 17, 1947.

She sits at a desk typing as her guide dog rests his head on her arm.

Sharon Williams, with her guide dog, works as receptionist for Lighthouse for the Blind in Fort Worth; she has been blind since birth, 07/31/1986.

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